Biography

Denzil Franco graduated from the SESA Football Academy as an outstanding player before turning out for Sporting Goa and Salgaocar and then moving to the now-defunct Mahindra United in Mumbai. The strapping right-back has helped ‘The Jeepmen’ and Churchill Brothers - whom he joined subsequently - win a clutch of trophies - the I-League, Federation Cup, Durand Cup and IFA Shield being prominent examples.

The Manchester United supporter, who was inspired by former India captain Bruno Coutinho, has gained the reputation of a penalty-kick specialist, having converted in the tiebreaker of the 2009 SAFF Cup final in Dhaka with the under-23 India team against the Maldives, and for the senior team in the Nehru Cup 2012 final against Cameroon. Born in Saligao, Goa, Franco returns home to FC Goa for Hero ISL 2016 after representing Atlético de Kolkata in the first two seasons of the league.